Battery adapter system

ABSTRACT

The battery adapter system includes a housing having a body portion and a reversible cap adapted to screw on and off of the body portion. The body portion has an interior sized to accommodate the whole of a relatively short and wide 3-volt lithium battery or to partially accommodate the narrower, taller 1.5-volt AA battery. The reversible cap has an open end and an interior, and has outer threads that allow the cap to screw to the body portion in either of two orientations. When using the smaller and wider lithium battery, the cap is screwed onto the body portion in a first orientation that forms a first sealed housing interior that does not include the cap interior. When using the taller and thinner AA battery, the cap is screwed onto the body portion in a second orientation wherein the cap open end is first placed over the portion of the AA battery that protrudes from the body portion. This forms a second sealed housing interior that includes the cap interior. The housing is designed to provide an electrical connection between the battery housed therein and a voltage regulating circuit, which is adapted to provide a 3 volt DC output for an input voltage anywhere between 0.6 volt and 3 volts. The output voltage is suitable for powering an electrical and/or optical device such as a light-emitting device.

RELATED APPLICATIONS AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY

The present application is a continuation of and claims priority fromU.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/732,152, entitled “Battery adaptersystem and night-vision scope using same,” filed on Apr. 03, 2007, whichapplication is incorporated by reference herein.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to battery adapters, and inparticular, a battery adapter system for electrically powering anoptical and/or electronic device.

BACKGROUND ART

Battery adapters are used for a variety of optical and/or electricaldevices that can be or that need to be powered by different types andsizes of batteries. One such device is a night-vision scope.Night-vision scopes are used to intensify low-level visible and/orinfrared light from a dimly lit scene so that the scene is visible tothe human eye. The typical night-vision scope has an image-intensifiersystem that consists of an optics portion and a control (electronics)portion. The optics portion comprises an objective lens in opticalcommunication with an image intensifier device that includes aphotocathode. The objective lens images light (photons) from thelow-light scene onto the photocathode. In response, the photocathodeemits photo-electrons in proportion to the amount of light imaged ateach photocathode location, thereby forming an electron patternrepresentative of the low-level scene image. The emitted photo-electronsare then accelerated by a first large voltage potential (e.g., 5000volts) through a micro channel plate, which acts to multiply the numberof electrons via secondary cascaded emission. The multiplied electronsmove toward a phosphor screen via a second voltage potential, whichconverts each incident electron into a corresponding photon. The resultis a visible-light pattern representative of the dimly lit scene andthat is visible to the human eye.

The control portion of the image intensifier system includes electroniccircuitry and a power source necessary for controlling and powering theimage intensifier portion of the night vision system. Since night-visionscopes are portable, the power source is a battery.

There are three basic approaches to providing the necessary electricalpower via battery to operate the image intensifier of a night-visionscope. The first is to use two AA 1.5-volt batteries in series toprovide 3 volts to the electronic circuitry. The second is to use asingle 3-volt lithium battery (e.g., a DL123 battery). The third is touse one AA 1.5-volt battery in conjunction with a step-up circuit, suchas described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,806,683 to Saldana (the '683 patent).

The '683 patent discloses a battery adapter system that uses a batteryhousing in combination with a step-up circuit mounted in the batteryhousing. The battery adapter system allows a night-vision device to usea single AA 1.5-volt battery. The motivation behind the '683 patent isthat most missions where night-vision devices are used last less than 24hours and so do not require two AA batteries. Because the single1.5-volt battery provides the 3 volts needed, it is used up quicker thantwo batteries, so that the single battery is used nearly to or up to itslife's end.

What is needed is a battery adapter system for use with electricaland/or optical devices that can accommodate different sized batterieshaving different voltages and that can also provide a constant outputvoltage for use by the electrical and/or optical system.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

One aspect of the invention is a battery adapter system configurable toaccommodate first or second batteries having different sizes anddifferent voltages. The system includes a housing having a body portionadapted to accommodate through an open end either the entire firstbattery or a portion of the second battery and to establish electricalcontact with whichever battery is used. In one example, the firstbattery is a relatively short and wide 3-volt lithium battery while thesecond battery is a narrower, taller 1.5-volt AA battery. The systemincludes a reversible cap with a closed end, an open end and aninterior, the cap being adapted to be removably attached (e.g., viathreads) to the body portion in two different orientations. In a firstorientation, the cap serves to form a first sealed housing interior thatdoes not include the cap interior and that operably houses the first,smaller battery. In a second (i.e., reverse) orientation, the cap servesto form a second sealed housing interior that includes the cap interiorand that operably houses the larger second battery. The system alsoincludes a voltage regulating circuit electrically connected to thebattery and adapted to provide a substantially constant output voltage,such as 3 VDC even thought the first and second batteries have differentvoltages (e.g., 3V and 1.5V, respectively).

Another aspect of the invention is a battery adapter system for poweringan electrical and/or optical device using one of first and secondbatteries having different sizes and voltages. The system includes ahousing that includes a body portion configured to accommodate throughan open end either the entire first battery or a portion of the secondbattery. The system includes a reversible cap having an open end and aninterior. The cap is adapted to be threadedly attached to the bodyportion in first and second orientations. The first cap orientationforms a first sealed housing interior that does not include the capinterior and that operably houses the first battery. The secondorientation forms a second sealed housing interior that includes the capinterior and that operably houses the second battery.

Another aspect of the invention is the battery adapter system of thepresent invention as described immediately above but that furtherincludes a voltage regulating circuit electrically connected to thebattery in the housing. The circuit is configured to provide asubstantially constant output voltage from a range of battery voltages,such as 3V from a relatively short and wide lithium battery and 1.5Vfrom a relative thin and tall AA battery.

Another aspect of the invention is the battery adapter system asdescribe above, further wherein voltage regulating circuit provides a 3VDC output and wherein the battery voltages range from about 0.6 VDC toabout 3 VDC.

Another aspect of the invention is the battery adapter system asdescribe above, further wherein the voltage regulating circuit isoperably connected to an electrical and/or optical device. In oneexample, the electrical and/or optical device is or includes alight-emitting device or a light-intensification device.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth inthe detailed description that follows, and in part will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art from that description or recognizedby practicing the invention as described herein, including the detaileddescription which follows, the claims, as well as the appended drawings.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description andthe following detailed description present embodiments of the inventionare intended to provide an overview or framework for understanding thenature and character of the invention as it is claimed. The accompanyingdrawings are included to provide a further understanding of theinvention, and are incorporated into and constitute a part of thisspecification. The drawings illustrate various embodiments of theinvention, and together with the description serve to explain theprinciples and operations of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a side view of a rifle that includes a day scope and anight-vision scope according to the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the basic components of thenight-vision scope of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view of an example embodiment of thereversible cap that makes up part of the battery housing;

FIG. 4 is a close-up cross-sectional diagram of the reversible cap ofFIG. 3 taken along the line 4-4;

FIG. 5 is a close-up cross-sectional view of an example embodiment ofthe body portion of the battery housing;

FIG. 6 is a perspective partially exploded view of the night-visionscope of the present invention, showing an AA battery being housed inthe battery housing with the reversible cap in the AA orientation;

FIG. 7 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the battery housing of thenight-vision scope of FIG. 6, with the reversible cap oriented in the AAposition, and with an AA battery housed within the housing interior;

FIG. 8 is a perspective partially exploded view of the night-visionscope of the present invention, showing a lithium battery being housedin the battery housing with the reversible cap in the L orientation;

FIG. 9 is a close-up cross-sectional view of the battery housing of thenight-vision scope of FIG. 8, with the reversible cap in theL-orientation, and with a lithium battery housed within the housinginterior; and

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an example embodiment of the batteryadapter system of the present invention, showing details of an exampleembodiment of the voltage-regulation circuit of the present invention;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is directed to a battery adapter system. Anexample electrical and/or optical device to which the system can beoperably connected is a night-vision scope such as the one described inU.S. Pat. No. 7,142,357 to Greenslade, which patent is incorporated byreference herein. The invention is described in connection with anight-vision scope as just one example of an electrical and/or opticaldevice that can be used in conjunction with the battery adapter systemof the present invention. In the night-vision scope embodiment discussedbelow, the electrical and/or optical device can be considered, forexample, to be the image-intensifier assembly 50 or just theimage-intensifier device 52 included as part of the assembly.

In the discussion below, “volts DC” is abbreviated “VDC.”

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a night-vision scope 10 according tothe present invention. Night-vision scope 10 includes a body 12.Night-vision scope 10 is shown in FIG. 1 as mounted on aquick-disconnect rail portion 20 of a rifle 22 using a quick-disconnectmount 26. Rifle 22 also includes a day scope 30 mounted to the riflein-line and behind night-vision scope 10, as shown.

FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram showing the basic components ofnight-vision scope 10. With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, night-visionscope 10 includes a lens assembly 40 in optical communication with animage-intensifier assembly 50 that includes an image-intensifier device52. Image-intensifier assembly 50 is arranged to receive and intensifylight 56 collected by the lens assembly and imaged thereby ontoimage-intensifier device 52 that is housed in a housing 58. Night-visionscope 10 includes a cylindrical battery housing 60 that includes a bodyportion 62 and a reversible cap 70. Battery housing 60 is electricallyconnected to a voltage-regulating circuit 90, which in turn iselectrically connected to image-intensifier device 52. Battery housing60 and voltage-regulating circuit 90 constitute a battery adapter system96 for night-vision scope 10. In an example embodiment,voltage-regulating circuit 90 is located in housing 58 along withimage-intensifier device 52.

As discussed in greater detail below, reversible cap 70 is adapted tothreadedly connect with (i.e., screw into) the open end of the bodyportion in either of two orientations, with both orientationsestablishing electrical contact between the cap and body portion so asto complete the voltage regulating circuit (housing 60 is grounded tonight-vision scope body 12). The two possible orientations of reversiblecap 70 define two different but generally cylindrical sealed housinginteriors designed to respectively operatively accommodate either arelatively tall, thin standard AA battery or a shorter, wider standardlithium battery (e.g., a DL123 battery) to power the image-intensifierassembly 50 (and in particular image intensifier device 52 therein) viavoltage-regulating circuit 90. For the sake of description, theorientation of reversible cap 70 used to house an AA battery is calledthe “AA orientation,” while the reverse orientation used to house alithium battery is called the “L orientation.”

Reversible Cap

FIG. 3 is a close-up perspective view of an example embodiment ofreversible cap 70, and FIG. 4 is a close-up cross-sectional diagram ofthe reversible cap of FIG. 4 taken along the line 4-4. Reversible cap 70is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 in the AA orientation (open end down) for thesake of illustration. Reversible cap 70 has a cylindrical sidewall 100having a central axis A_(C), an inner surface 102, and an outer surface104. Reversible cap 70 also has an open end 110 and an opposite closedend 112 closed by an end wall 120 having an inner surface 122 and anouter surface 124. Inner surfaces 102 and 122 define an open-ended capinterior 130 sized to closely accommodate the end portion of a standardAA battery.

Sidewall outer surface 104 includes centrally located outer threads 150.In an example embodiment, outer threads 150 are interrupted and include,for example, one or more horizontal gaps 154 and/or one or more verticalgaps 156. Sidewall outer surface 104 also includes a first smoothportion 160 that runs around the perimeter of the sidewall betweenclosed-end 112 and outer threads 150. Likewise, the sidewall outersurface includes a second smooth portion 166 that runs around theperimeter of the sidewall between open end 110 and outer threads 150.

End wall 120 includes an inner contact 180 located on end wall innersurface 122 that protrudes into cap interior 130 and that serves as afirst electrical contact, as explained below. End wall 120 also includesan outer contact 184 located on end wall outer surface 124 and oppositeinner contact 180 and that protrudes outwardly from the outer surfaceand that serves as a second electrical contact, as explained below.

Body Portion

FIG. 5 is a close-up cross-sectional view of an example embodiment ofbody portion 62. Body portion 62 includes a cylindrical sidewall 210having a central axis A_(BP), an inner surface 212, an outer surface214, an open end 216 and a closed bottom end 218 closed with bottom wall226 having an inner surface 228. Sidewall inner surface 212 and bottomwall inner surface 228 define a body portion interior 234. Body portioninterior 234 is sized to closely accommodate a standard lithium battery.

In a preferred embodiment, body portion includes an upper conductingpart (“upper body portion”) 62A and a lower insulating (i.e.,non-conducting) part (“lower body portion”) 62B in sealed contact withthe upper body portion (e.g., via a room-temperature vulcanizing (RTV)sealant). In an example embodiment, upper body portion 62A is made ofmetal and is used as a path to ground. In an example embodiment, lowerbody portion 62B is made of a temperature-resistant plastic such asDELRIN (a trademark of DUPONT Corporation), which is a durable acetalresin engineered plastic. Another suitable material for lower bodyportion 62B is acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS).

Body portion 62 includes a positive electrical contact unit 240 fixed toor formed on bottom wall inner surface 228. Positive electrical contactunit 240 includes, for example, a contact element 242 electricallyconnected to a contact printed circuit board (PCB) 244. Contact PCBincludes a wire 245 that passes through a sealed feed-through 246 inlower body portion 62B. Wire 245 leads to voltage-regulating circuit 90,as discussed in greater detail below. An example embodiment for positiveelectrical contact element 242 is a PCB spring.

Body portion 62 also includes a set of inner threads 250 that run aroundsidewall inner surface 212 at sidewall open end 216. Inner threads 250are formed so as to threadedly engage cap threads 150. Locatedimmediately below inner threads 250 is a groove 260 that runs aroundsidewall inner surface 212. Groove 260 is sized to accommodate an O-ringseal 266.

Battery Housing with Cap in AA Orientation

FIG. 6 is a perspective partially exploded view of night-vision scope10, showing an AA battery 80AA being housed in battery housing 60 withreversible cap 70 in the AA orientation. Battery 80AA includes a centralaxis A_(AA), a positive end 81AA having a positive contact 82AA, and anegative end 83AA having a negative contact 84AA. Note that AA battery80AA is inserted into body portion 62 positive-end first.

FIG. 7 is a close-up cross-sectional view of battery housing 60 withreversible cap 70 oriented in the AA position, and with an AA battery80AA housed within housing interior 66A. When powering night-visionscope 10 with AA battery 80AA, the battery is placed within body portioninterior 234 with its axis A_(AA) co-axial with body portion axis A_(BP)so that the battery's positive contact 82AA makes contact with positiveelectrical contact element 242 on bottom wall 228. At this point, thebattery's negative end 83AA extends beyond the plane P of body portionopen end 216. The open end 110 of reversible cap 70 is then placed overnegative end 83AA of AA battery 80AA so that the outer cap threads 150engage with body portion inner threads 250.

As cap 70 is screwed onto body portion 62, O-ring seal 266 engagessmooth portion 166 of outer surface 106 near cap open end 110. When cap70 is tightly attached to the body portion, the O-ring forms awater-tight seal with the cap at smooth surface portion 166. In apreferred example embodiment, the water-tight seal is certified to awater depth of at least 66 feet.

Cap electrical contact 180 is also brought into contact with thebattery's negative contact 84AA. Cap interior portion 134 combines withbody portion interior 234 to define a battery housing interior 66AA.Housing interior 66AA accommodates the AA battery 80AA, with the lowerportion of AA battery 80AA housed in body portion interior 234 with someroom between the battery and the inner surface 212 of cylindricalsidewall 210. The upper portion (e.g., about 25% or greater) of AAbattery 80AA associated with negative end 83AA is closely engaged byinner surface 102 of cap cylindrical sidewall 100. This firmly holds AAbattery 80AA within battery housing 60 even in the presence of rifleshock so that battery electrical contact is maintained with voltageregulating circuit 90. Night-scope 10 is thus able to be powered by anAA battery 80AA that outputs 1.5 volts, even under extreme operatingconditions.

Note that horizontal gaps 154 and/or vertical gaps 156 in outer threads150 of cap 70 (see also FIG. 1) form interrupted threads that facilitategripping the cap when screwing it onto or unscrewing it from bodyportion 62. This is an important advantage of the present invention,given that a person using rifle 22 may be wearing gloves when they needto remove and/or insert a battery into the battery housing.

Battery Housing with Cap in L-orientation

FIG. 8 is a perspective partially exploded view of night-vision scope 10similar to FIG. 6, but showing a lithium battery 80L being housed inbattery housing 60 with reversible cap 70 in the L orientation. Battery80L includes a central axis A_(L), a positive end 81L having a positivecontact 82L and a negative end 83L having a negative contact 84L. FIG. 9is a close-up cross-sectional view of battery housing 60 similar to FIG.7, but with reversible cap 70 in the L-orientation, and with lithiumbattery 80L housed within housing interior 66L positive-side down.

When powering night-vision scope 10 with a lithium battery 80L, thelithium battery is placed within body portion interior 234 with itscentral axis A_(L) co-axial with body portion axis A_(BP) so that thepositive battery contact 82L makes contact with positive battery contactelement 242. At this point, the negative end 83L of lithium battery 80Lresides below the plane P defined by open end 216 of body portion 62.The closed end 112 of reversible cap 70 is then inserted into open end216 of body portion 62 so that the cap threads 150 engage with the bodyportion threads 250. As cap 70 is screwed onto body portion 62, O-ringseal 266 engages smooth portion 160 of outer surface 106 near cap closedend 112. When cap 70 is tightly attached to the body portion, the O-ringforms a water-tight seal with the cap. In a preferred exampleembodiment, the water-tight seal is certified to a water depth of atleast 66 feet.

Cap exterior contact 184 is also brought into contact with negativebattery contact 180 when cap 70 is tightened. When in its fully engagedposition, cap 70 protrudes into body portion interior 234 to define abattery housing interior 66L smaller than the body portion interior andthat closely accommodates lithium battery 80L all around. Thisarrangement firmly holds battery 80L within battery housing 60 even inthe presence of rifle shock so that battery electrical contact ismaintained with voltage regulating circuit 90. Night-vision scope 10 isthus ready to be powered by a 3-volt lithium battery 80L even underextreme operating conditions.

As with the case of the AA-cap orientation, in an example embodiment theL-cap orientation provides user access interrupted outer threads 150 tofacilitate the gripping of cap 70 when screwing it into or unscrewing itfrom body portion 62.

Voltage Regulating Circuit

FIG. 10 is a schematic circuit diagram of an example embodiment ofvoltage regulating circuit 90. As discussed above, in an exampleembodiment, voltage regulating circuit 90 is located in housing 58 ofnight-vision scope 10 and is electrically connected to the battery heldin battery housing 60 via wire 245 and to image intensifier device 52.Voltage regulating circuit 90 provides a regulated, stable voltagesource of 3 VDC at 20 milliamperes for optimum performance. Voltageregulating circuit 90 converts a battery voltage V_(B) within the rangeof 0.6 to 3 VDC to a regulated, stable output voltage V_(O) of 3 VDC,which is provided to image-intensifier device 52. The circuit iscompleted by returning to the grounded housing 60 (conducting upper bodyportion 62A).

Voltage regulating circuit 90 allows the night-vision scope to beoperated with either the single AA battery 80AA that provides 1.5 VDCwhen fully charged, or the single lithium battery 80L that outputs 3 VDCwhen fully charged. Equally important, the night-vision scope can beoperated with substantially less voltage when either of these batteriesis weak from use. This also allows the night-vision scope to be madesmaller while also having an acceptable running time with no degradationin night-vision scope performance right up to the battery's useful life.Also, for the standard two-battery unit, battery life is greatlyextended (by 4 times). This is because the individual AA or lithiumbatteries can go from 1.5 VDC (when new) to 0.6 VDC (when drained),which is well beyond the standard end-of-life of 1.1 VDC, with thecircuit still providing an output voltage V_(O) of 3 VDC.

Voltage regulating circuit 90 preferably uses a commercially availableintegrated circuit Q1. The circuit “charges” an inductor L1 (e.g., 22mH) from the external battery 80AA or 80L with a current flow of about0.5 amperes and then “discharges” the inductor into the load circuit(i.e. image intensifier device 52). When an inductor is rapidlydischarged (i.e. when it is disconnected from its current source), thevoltage across it rises due to the collapsing magnetic field around theinductor. This tends to keep the current flowing. This voltage appearsat output pin P10 of Q1 and is filtered/smoothed by capacitors C3 andC4.

Transistor switches (not shown) inside Q1 automatically perform theconnecting of L1, first to the external battery, and then to the loadcircuit. Q1 constantly measures the output voltage by looking at thejunction of R2 and R3 via pin P1 (labeled “FB” for “Feedback”).Resistors R2 and R3 form a voltage divider that outputs 1.3 VDC to Q1pin P1 when pin P10 (i.e. output) is at 3 VDC. 1.3 VDC is comparedinside Q1 with a precision 1.3 VDC reference voltage located inside Q1.Thus, Q1's internal control circuitry is able to adjust the switchingcycle timing of charging and discharging L1 in order to maintain anearly constant output of 3 VDC.

An advantage of the battery adapter system of the present invention isthat the voltage regulator circuit provides the particular electricaland/or optical device with 3 VDC even when the particular battery beingused is past its useful lifetime. As mentioned above, the voltageregulator circuit is able to provide an output voltage of 3 VDC evenwhen the battery is only outputting a voltage of 0.6 volts. Prior artsystems for powering with one or more batteries electrical and/oroptical devices such as in the form of image intensifier devices requirereplacing the battery prior to the battery output reaching such a lowoutput voltage. Since most missions involving night-vision scopes last24 hours or less, the present invention allows a single fresh battery tobe inserted prior to the mission and then used during the missionwithout the user having to switch batteries. In situations where theuser needs to switch batteries, the user need only carry singlebatteries of either the lithium type or the AA type. The reversible capmakes switching batteries very easy, and the fact that only a singlebattery needs to replace another single battery also makes the batteryswitching operation easy to perform, regardless of the type ofelectronic and/or optical device being powered.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the present inventionwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, itis intended that the present invention cover the modifications andvariations of this invention provided they come within the scope of theappended claims and their equivalents.

1. A battery adapter system configurable to accommodate first smallerbattery or a second larger battery having different voltages,comprising: a housing that includes a body portion adapted toaccommodate through an open end either the entire first battery or aportion of the second battery and to establish electrical contact withwhichever battery is used; a reversible cap with a closed end, an openend and an interior, the cap being adapted to be removably attach to thebody portion i) in a first orientation that forms a first sealed housinginterior that does not include the cap interior and that operably housesthe first battery, and ii) in a second orientation that forms a secondsealed housing interior that includes the cap interior and that operablyhouses the second battery; and a voltage regulating circuit electricallyconnected to the battery and adapted to provide a substantially constantoutput voltage.
 2. The battery adapter system of claim 1, wherein thevoltage regulating circuit is configured to generate said substantiallyconstant output voltage in an amount of 3 VDC based on a voltageprovided by either the first or second battery, wherein the first orsecond battery voltage ranges from about 0.6 VDC to about 3 VDC.
 3. Thebattery adapter system of claim 2, wherein the first battery is a 3 VDClithium DL123 battery and the second battery is a 1.5 VDC AA battery. 4.The battery adapter system of claim 1, wherein the body portion includesan O-ring seal near the open end that provides a water-tight sealcertified to a water depth of at least 66 feet when the reversible capis attached to the body portion in either orientation.
 5. The batteryadapter system of claim 1, wherein: the reversible cap threadedlyattaches to the housing, with the reversible cap having an outer surfacewith centrally located outer threads that run around the surface andthat are surrounded by upper and lower smooth outer surface portions;the body portion has an interior surface with inner threads formedtherein between the body portion open end the O-ring seal; and the outerthreads are adapted to engage the inner threads to attach the cap to thebody portion for either cap orientation.
 6. The battery adapter systemof claim 5, wherein the outer threads are interrupted to facilitategripping of the reversible cap when attaching or removing the cap fromthe body portion in either cap orientation.
 7. The battery adaptersystem of claim 5, wherein the upper and lower smooth surface portionsrespectively engage the O-ring seal when the cap is threadedly attachedto the body portion in either the first or second cap orientations. 8.The battery adapter system of claim 1, wherein the voltage regulatingcircuit is electrically connected to a device so as to power the device.9. The battery adapter system of claim 8, wherein the device is anelectrical and/or optical device.
 10. The battery adapter system ofclaim 9, wherein the electrical and/or optical device is alight-emitting and/or light amplification device.
 11. The batteryadapter system of claim 8, wherein the device is animage-intensification assembly.
 12. The battery adapter system of claim8, wherein the device is an image-intensification device within theimage-intensification assembly.
 13. The battery adapter system of claim1, wherein the first and second housing interiors are respectively sizedto firmly hold the first and second batteries in place so that the firstand second batteries are resistant to movement.
 14. The battery adaptersystem of claim 1, wherein the housing is incorporated into an opticaland/or an electronic system.
 15. The battery adapter system of claim 1,wherein the optical and/or electronic system is a night vision scope.16. A battery adapter system for powering an electrical and/or opticaldevice using one of first and second batteries having different sizesand voltages, comprising: a housing that includes a body portionconfigured to axially accommodate through an open end either the entirefirst battery or a portion of the second battery; and a reversible caphaving an open end and an interior and adapted to threadedly attach tothe body portion in first and second orientations, wherein the firstorientation forms a first sealed housing interior that does not includethe cap interior and that operably houses the first battery, and whereinthe second orientation forms a second sealed housing interior thatincludes the cap interior and that operably houses the second battery.17. The battery adapter system of claim 16, further including: a voltageregulating circuit electrically connected to the battery in the housingand configured to provide a substantially constant output voltage from arange of battery voltages.
 18. The battery adapter system of claim 17,wherein the voltage regulating circuit provides a 3 VDC output andwherein the battery voltages range from about 0.6 VDC to about 3 VDC.19. The battery adapter system of claim 16, wherein the first battery isa 3V lithium DL123 battery and the second battery is a 1.5V AA battery.20. The battery adapter system of claim 16, wherein the voltageregulating circuit is operably connected to an electrical and/or opticaldevice.
 21. The battery adapter system of claim 20, wherein theelectrical and/or optical device includes an image-intensifier device.22. The battery adapter system of claim 20, wherein the electricaland/or optical device includes a light-emitting device.
 23. The batteryadapter system of claim 22, wherein the light-emitting device is animage-intensifier device.